The Rural Voice, 1986-08, Page 54BANK YOUR PROFITS
• Hamp
• Duroc
• York &
• X Bred
boars
Guaranteed Breeders
York x Landrace gilts
Contact Milt Turner
I'ROTEKTA SWINE BREEDERS
RR 1 Lucknow 519-528-3914
West Wawanosh
Mutual Insurance
Company
Dungannon, Ont. NOM 1R0
FARMS AUTO
RESIDENTIAL
AGENTS
Frank Foran, R.R. 2, Lucknow 528-3824
Lyons & Mulhern, 46 West St., Goderich . 524-2664
Donald MacKay, R.R. 43, Ripley 395-5362
Kenneth B. MacLean, R.R. 42, Paisley 368-7537
John Nixon, R.R. 85, Brussels 887-9417
Donald R. Simpson, R.R. 83, Goderich 529.7567
Delmar Sproul, R.R. 43, Auburn 529-7273
Laurie Campbell, Brussels 8879051
Slade Insurance Brokers Inc.
Kincardine 396-9513
FOR A QUOTATION ON YOUR
FARM, HOME, COTTAGE, OR
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE,
CONTACT THE AGENT
IN YOUR AREA.
DIRECTORS
Eldon Bradley. Lucknow 528.2214
John Bryce. A.R.tY3. Paisley 353-5631
Glen Coultes. R.R. 45, Brussels 887-6124
Gerald Kerr. P.O. Box 62, Blyth 523-9275
Donald McKenzie. 163 Elgin Ave. West,
Goderich 524-7602
Gordon A. Stewart. R R 2 Ripley 395-5235
CLAIMS SHOULD BE REPORTED
PROMPTLY TO THE DIRECTOR
IN YOUR AREA.
Norris Peever, Manager
Dungannon, Ontario
NOM 1R0
519-529-7922
52 THE RURAL VOICE
HERITAGE
SOME BASICS
IN ARCHITECTURAL
ENGINEERING
In the last column the principles
of basic design used in architecture
were described. This account
covers the engineering principles
that keep buildings from falling
down.
Whether or not buildings are in-
digenous architecture (peculiar to a
region) or designed architecture
(by architects) the same rules have
been applied for centuries.
The Roof
The most basic need for
mankind is to have a roof
overhead to provide relief from
rain and sun. The greater the slant,
the faster the rain is shed. The
durability of a roof depends on the
material it is made from.
The Wall
A roof resting on a wall provides
more room for shelter and storage
of possessions. The first principles
of engineering were developed in
the evolution of wall building. A
wall constructed of mud bricks,
for example, can only be built a
certain height before the weight of
the bricks in the wall crush those at
the base. The use of mortar be-
tween bricks and stone distributed
the problems of weight and stress
that permitted walls of several
storeys.
The Arch
The Arch
A wall to be useful must have
doors and windows which require
openings of various sizes.
However, the ancients found that
openings create points of
weakness. To overcome this,
special attention was paid to the
tops of the openings. Small open-
ings can have a log or beam called
a "header" to keep the top edge
from falling in. Larger openings
can be created between two posts
or side pieces leaning together and
tied at the top. The best support of
all is called an arch, which is a
semicircle. The material creating
the semicircle edge share the
weight evenly along the edge. Until
the arch was discovered it was im-
possible to have large windows.
Footings
To prevent a heavy wall from
sinking into the ground, it must
stand on a flat base. In this part of
the world the footings under walls
have to be set below the ground
about four feet to ensure stability.
Otherwise, frost will eventually
heave the wall until it topples.
Drainage
A good solid wall with sufficient
footings will not last or be free of
continuous settlement unless there
is drainage to keep water away.
These drains, in gravel beside the
footings, are generally called weep-
ing tiles.
The Buttress
The Buttress
To prevent walls from toppling
in old buildings from wind or from
roof pressure, it was necessary to
integrate short crosswalls at right
angles and at regular intervals.